After the storytelling, he asked his young listeners what they learned as the most important lesson. “Fairness,” one child answered.

“That is so right,” Arnado said. Quickly, he shifted gears and addressed the teachers and municipal employees who witnessed the December 4 Inquirer Read-Along at the public gym: “We should all recognize the importance of fairness in laying the foundation for sustainable peace.”

“Christians and Muslims, Maranaos and Cebuanos—all must have equal footing, not one must take precedence over another,” he said.

Written by Bea Sapan and published by the Kids for Peace Foundation, “Ang Bagong Golis” tells, through the characters Goryo and Saban, how Ilocanos and Maguindanaoans created a new rule for playing spinning tops so that no matter how different the make of their toys, they could still have fun together.

The Ilocano top is made of wood with a nail tip; that of the Maguindanaoan is all wood. Because of this basic difference, Ilocano and Maguindanaoan kids play separately.

“Goryo and Saban showed us how we can transform our differences into harmonious coexistence … This story has very relevant lessons for our community,”***Kid stands tall http://services.inquirer.net/print/print... For an actor...4 feet and 2 and a half inches, 11-year-old Martin de los Santos stands tall ! wee kid walked the red carpet at the Berlin International Film Festival alongside Gael Garcia Bernal and Michelle Williams for Lukas Moodysson’s “Mammoth” last year.

He was among the Filipino actors, along with Marife Necesito, Jan David Nicdao, Maria Esmeralda del Carmen and Perry Dizon, who were cast in the international film.

Martin recalls the “blinding” flash of the paparazzi’s cameras.

“Ang dami nila,” he says of the numerous photographers lined up in front of them. “My favorite part was when they asked me to sign the poster.”